Tag Archives: relocalizing food

Relocalizing the food supply chain will require more than the vision and passion of individual pioneers or the good intentions of large institutions. Like the industrial food system, robust local food systems will require sophisticated technology infrastructure—but infrastructure that values regional diversity and transparency over consolidation. In our deeply centralized, industrialized food system, the food chain story has become long, complicated and opaque. This is both by design and by accident. It’s a result of both the sheer scale of the system and the kinds of efficiencies that allow it to exist—the details of which factory farmers, large processors and distributors would often rather keep under wraps. Food + Tech Connect post.

Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners

Black Urban Growers (BUGS) is an organization of volunteers committed to building networks and community support for growers in both urban and rural settings. Through education and advocacy around food and farm issues, we nurture collective black leadership to ensure we have a seat at the table. Our mission is to engage people of African descent in critical food and farm-related issues that directly impacts our health, communities, and economic security. Website. Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners 2014 Conference, October 17 – 19, Western International High School in Detroit, Michigan.

Food Policy Resource Database

The Food Policy Networks Project at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) has been keeping tabs on some of the great work being done and can now make all those documents, websites, studies, and contact information available for all. The two new features include a database of policies, how-to guides, case studies and more, as well as a directory of food policy councils (FPCs) in the U.S., Canada, and First Nations. The resource topics are related to economic development, environmental sustainability, food processing, farm-to-institution procurement, hunger/food security, labor, and retail policy. Database.

A foreign affair – an ‘Ireland abroad’ experience

Good Food Ireland (GFI) members from both the agri-food and tourism hospitality industries have delivered a very clear message and not wavered in their views in this the third year of our survey. The message in relation to financial performance is resoundingly positive. Remarkably and even throughout a recession, year on year, more than 9 out of 10 respondents have continued to increase their level of spend on Irish food. Good Food Ireland’s food tourism strategy has a proven track record and brand guarantee for Irish ingredient-led food tourism experiences. It provides a sustainable and scalable business model for the Irish food and hospitality sector, smartly connecting food to tourism and tourism to food. Report.

San Francisco Urban Agriculture Ordinance

The Urban Agriculture Ordinance calls for the establishment of an Urban Agriculture Program for the City and County of San Francisco. The ordinance requires the Office of the City Administrator to coordinate with City departments and community stakeholders to determine which City agency or non-profit organization will permanently house the Urban Agriculture program. Ordinance.

SA’s premium food and wine to shine in Restaurant Australia campaign

South Australia’s status as a world-leading premium food and wine destination will be highlighted in a new $10 million Tourism Australia campaign. Restaurant Australia will promote to the world the idea that Australia is the ‘world’s greatest restaurant’ through advertising and social media campaigns in key international markets. South Australia news release.

New California law aims to cultivate urban agriculture

Like many of California’s urban agriculture practitioners, Caitlyn Galloway is plagued by a key uncertainty: She is on a month-to-month lease with a landlord who must recoup the lot’s steep property taxes and may soon sell or develop. Now, California cities and counties eager to encourage community gardens and small-scale farms in urban pockets have a novel tool at their disposal that could help solve Galloway’s problem. Legislation recently signed by Gov. Jerry Brown will allow municipalities to lower the assessed value — and property taxes — on plots of three acres or less if owners pledge to dedicate them to growing food for at least five years. Los Angeles Times story.

Why We Need Open & Collaborative Food Sourcing

In the future of dining, consumers, restaurants, distributors and producers will all collaborate in food sourcing. Open communication and supply chain transparency will be the norm. Sound utopian? It’s actually just downright practical! We’re already working towards an economy where supply, demand and consumer feedback flow in all directions. The biggest challenge we face at the moment is the significant resistance to technology within the food supplier ecosystem. Part of this resistance is due to our current position on the adoption curve. Our challenges aren’t technological, they’re deeply human. Both buyers and sellers are hesitant to transition to an “impersonal” technology and away from a system that has historically thrived on long-term relationships, special deals and information asymmetries. Food + Tech Connect post.

Good Food Ireland

Your guarantee for the best authentic Irish food experience from over 600 Places to Stay, Eat, Cook and Shop around the island of Ireland. People who are passionately committed to using local food, supporting Irish farmers, food producers and fishermen. Good Food Ireland is Ireland’s culture on a plate, bringing People together through food. Enjoy… Blog.

Opportunities for the small family farm

Family farming is the backbone of UK agriculture, and this is the same the world over. Land, skills, heritage and tradition are passed between generations, and the rural lifestyle is a unique culture that agricultural communities are proud of. However, mixing family and business can be challenging, and decisions are sometimes emotion based rather than strictly financial. Jamie McCoy, Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust Report. RuSource Briefing 2044.

AND IF YOU HAVE TIME

Belleville bar grills 100-foot brat

About 50 volunteers, listening to instructions on a megaphone, successfully grilled a 100-foot bratwurst without burning or breaking it on Tuesday. The practice run at Silver Creek Saloon was in preparation for an attempt to grill a 200-foot-long bratwurst at the city’s 200th anniversary celebration next week. The bratwurst was made with natural casing — interlocked, not sewn together — and a 100 percent, gluten-free, lean pork. The 10th Street Baking Company will bake a 200-foot-long bun to go with the bratwurst. BND.com story.